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Definition
of a "Bible-Based Cult:"
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| Some people have a rather
elastic definition of "Bible-Based Cult." For them it includes any
group that makes any kind of use of the Bible in its teaching or practice.
This results in them including many groups with very unorthodox theology
under this designation. |
| On this web site we
define a Bible-Based Cult as one that possesses what is generally considered
a very orthodox set of beliefs, by conservative evangelical Christian standards,
and yet all their practices are cultish. |
| We will continue making
additions to this web site from time to time as opportunity allows, and
as we identify more of these Bible-based cultish groups. |
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PeaceMakers,
International
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| Location: |
Wheaton,
Illinois, USA |
| Leader: |
Bill Fields |
| Founded: |
1983 |
| Size: |
Approximately 7 to 15
members (?) |
| Description: |
-
At various times Bill Fields
has held himself out as a "counselor" and a "therapist," even to the point
of filing insurance claims for his services.
-
He is not, however, licensed
to provide professional psychological services. At other times he
refers to himself as a "biblical counselor," a "pastoral counselor," a
"minister of reconciliation," a "pastor," and other ecclesiastically-related
titles.
-
However, he was excommunicated
from the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church in the late 1980s, after being
fired from the Youth For Christ parachurch organization.
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Perhaps the most obvious
characteristics of PeaceMaker group meetings have been their resemblance
to 12-step group meetings, or to group therapy sessions. Fields maintains
control through intimidation.
-
He recruits new members
through traditional cult "love-bombing" techniques, and is effective at
identifying vulnerable prospective new members.
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Despite this, his PeaceMakers
cult has had a historically high attrition rate, and has remained small
through the years.
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The most alarming aspect
of the PeaceMakers cult is its practice of separating members from their
families.
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Another alarming feature
of the cult is the leader's abusive manipulation of his followers' finances.
|
| Cultic Characteristics: |
| (1) |
Authoritarian,
unaccountable, verbally abusive leader. |
| (2) |
Members cut off ties
with their families, with frequent accusations against parents. |
| (3) |
Incident(s) of False
Memory Syndrome reported. |
| (4) |
Members required to
confess sins to leader/group; confessed sins later shared with others,
including those outside the cult. |
| (5) |
Leader displays voyeuristic
interest in the sex lives of members. |
| (6) |
Excessive, inappropriate
and/or unfair "church discipline." |
| (7) |
Painful exit process. |
|
For more information,
please see:
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To submit information
on other Bible-Based Cults,
to send comments, or
ask questions,
please email biblebasedcults@yahoo.com.
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Bible-Based Cults, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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